Core Values: We welcome…

If Jesus could be said to have had an office then it would have to have been the humble kitchen table. It’s where he did a major part of the business of the Kingdom. He was never far from someone’s table. So much so that his detractors said of him

“Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of sinners and tax collectors.” Mt 11:19

The table and the meal represent in most cultures the place of acceptance. If you accept someone you eat with them. If you reject someone from your community then you refuse to eat with them. That’s why the Pharisees hated Jesus’ table ministry – he was demonstrating by his action that they were acceptable to God. The Pharisees knew that the unethical and immoral behaviour of these people made them unacceptable to God so Jesus’ company at meal times made it look as though God approved of sin! That was one unfortunate conclusion that could be reached but Jesus was willing to risk that sort of misunderstanding in order to achieve a different result from his table ministry. He wanted to communicate to ‘sinners’ who hated being sinners in their own eyes that God already graciously accepts them and offers them a way back to him. God, in the person of Jesus, was eating with them.

For many this resulted in repentance and a change of life – like Zaccheus, and the woman at the home of Simon the Pharisee. They understood what it meant for Jesus to eat with them.

Today we still show whether people are important to us by whether we invite them into our home or not.

Our core value at LFC says

We welcome:

• all those who want to join us on the journey of following Jesus
• the contribution and participation of people of different ages, genders, cultures, life situations and faith journeys.

But what does it mean to “welcome”? I don’t think it means to merely put on a friendly smile at church and hope the pastoral care committee follows them up. Not after seeing what Jesus meant by ‘welcoming people to the table’.

I believe if we are to truly ‘welcome’ people in Jesus’ name then we must do it as he did it – invite them right into our own homes. Share a cuppa or a meal with new people, lonely neighbours, and those who are socially shunned. Don’t keep them out of your heart or your home. And if they can’t come to your home do what Jesus did; go to theirs.

Jesus still shows us every Sunday how to welcome people… around his table.

Graeme H.